Relief to the flood affected on top priority basis:CM

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Aug 9 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh tonight said his government would accord top priority to the relief for the flood affected and would undertake a detailed survey of the damages to the crop in state.

Talking to reporters after conducting an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts of North Maharashtra, Marathwada and some parts of Vidarbha, Mr Deshmukh said most of the villagers ware still under the grip of the floods due to continous release of water from various dams and said that providing urgent relief to them would be top priority of his government.

Mr Deshmukh at a joint press conference along with the Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil tonight said the state government would provide food to the flood affected people until their stay in the relief camps.

''Some of the relief camps have been set up by Non Government Organisations as well as social activists considering the seriousness of the issue, and I have issued orders to the authorities to co-ordinate with them, and make sure of adequate food supply from the government,'' Mr Deshmukh said.

Mr Deshmukh, who visited few of the camps of the flood affected residents at Paithan in the district, said people have complained about their difficulties and the government would make sincere efforts to resolve their issues.

To a question, Mr Deshmukh has ruled out any delay in getting Central Relief Funds due to non-submitting of utilisation certificate by the state government and said it was a continous process and the state government has about Rs 234 crore in its kitty and does not find any problem in providing relief, till receiving first instalment of the CRF.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by his deputy arrived here from state capital in the morning, undertook aerial survey of north Maharashtra immediately, before undertaking second round of his aerial survey in the flood affected districts of Nanded and Parbhani in Aurangabad and some parts of Vidarbha.

On his return from aerial survey, he left for Paithan, where half of the piligrimage town has been encircled by flood water caused by the release of water from Jayakwadi dam.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit flood affected districts of Western Maharashtra tomorrow.

UNI MPJ MAZ VA RN2350